December 2010
Nitric oxide biochemistry, mode of action and signaling in plants
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous diatomic radical with a wide variety of physiological and pathological implications in animal, plant and microbes. NO reacts directly with metal complexes and other radicals and indirectly as a reactive nitrogen oxide species with DNA, proteins, and lipids. In animals, NO is a signal transduction element that is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme from L-arginine that...
December 2010
Acorus calamus: An overview
Acorus calamus (Sweet flag) is a wetland perennial monocot plant, in which the scented leaves and rhizomes have been traditionally used medicinally against different ailments like,fever, asthma, bronchitis, cough and mainly for digestive problems such as gas, bloating, colic, and poor digestive function. Number of active constituents and essential oil were identified and...
December 2010
The multiple actions of the phytomedicine Echinacea in the treatment of colds and flu
The symptoms of cold and flu are generally attributed to specific respiratory viruses and bacteria acting either as primary agents, or as secondary agents following a viral infection. These infections can induce the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by various airway epithelial cells and in conjunction with other inflammatory mediators, thereby producing the familiar symptoms of a cold or flu. Certain types...
December 2010
Melissa officinalis L., a valuable medicine plant: A review
Melissa officinalis L., a valuable medicinal plant in herbal medicine is native to the eastern Mediterranean Region and western Asia. The constituent of the essential oil of the plant in various climates is different, but citral (geranial and neral), citronellal, geraniol are main components. Many parameters influencing essential oil composition and yield, such as light intensity, nutrient, temperature, cultural...
December 2010
Molecular regulation of terpenoid indole alkaloids pathway in the medicinal plant, Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus (L.) is a plant species known for its production of many pharmaceutically terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs). The intricate networks of TIAs biosynthesis is regulated by all kinds of molecules such as plant signaling molecules (jasmonate acid, ethylene and nitric oxide), plant growth regulators, prenylated proteins and transcription factors. This fine-tuned regulation is also accompanied with...
December 2010
A review account on medicinal value of Hedychium spicatum Buch-Ham ex Sm: Vulnerable medicinal plant
The objective of this study was to compile a review note on distribution, medicinal properties, trade value and problems associated with an important medicinal plant, Hedychium spicatumBuch-Ham ex Sm (Zingiberaceae). The underground part (rhizome) is useful in preparation of indigenous medicine like the crude extract of the rhizome has been used in preparation of an anti cancerous drug. Essential oil (commercially...
December 2010
Potential role of natural molecules in health and disease: Importance of boswellic acid
The therapeutic use of natural products was perhaps the oldest medical practices. Interestingly, 64% of total population of the world utilizes plants as drugs mainly in the developing countries. There are more than 85,000 plant species that have been documented for medical use globally. So, plant derived natural products hold great promise for discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals in diverse human...
December 2010
Vernonia amygdalina, an ethnoveterinary and ethnomedical used green vegetable with multiple bio-activities
Today, researches are focusing on the discovery of new therapeutic substances of natural origin with possible low or no toxicity to human, animal and environment, based on ethnomedical and ethnoveterinary practices.Vernonia amygdalina is a shrub that has been commonly known as bitter leaf due the bitter taste of the leaves. It is widely used as a daily green vegetable or herb to treat malaria and diabetes. The...
December 2010
Salvia miltiorrhiza: Chemical and pharmacological review of a medicinal plant
Salvia miltiorrhiza is a well-known traditional Chinese herb, belongs to the family of Labiatae, is used in many parts of the world to treat various conditions due to their excellent medicinal values. It is rich sources of tanshinone I, tanshinone II, miltirone and salvianolic acid and a wide range of chemical compounds. Extracts of the plant, particularly those from the root, possess useful pharmacological...
December 2010
Search for a novel antioxidant, anti-inflammatory/analgesic or anti-proliferative drug: Cucurbitacins hold the ace
Cucurbitacins are triterpenoid steroids reported to have several biological activities and are predominantly isolated from Cucurbitaceae family. They are efficient anti-oxidant and this property lies in their ability to scavenge free-radicals such as hydroxyl radical, superoxide anions and singlet oxygen. This broad spectrum radical-scavenging capacity surpasses what had been reported for other natural antioxidants such...
December 2010
Activity of essential oils as a biorational alternative to control coleopteran insects in stored grains
The essential oils have been widely used as antiparasitical, bactericidal, fungicidal, antivirus and insecticidal. On the other hand the main method to control insect pest is using synthetic pesticides, but the development of insect resistance to this products, the high operational cost and environmental pollution have created the need for developing alternative approaches to control many insects pest, and in this sense...
December 2010
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.): A medicinal plant with myriad biological properties - A short review
The pomegranate, Punica granatum L., which can be found throughout the Mediterranean region, in Southeast Asia, California and Arizona in USA was in ancient times referred as possessing powers of fertility, abundance and good luck (fruit). The biological properties of extracts (antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, among other properties) obtained from several parts of pomegranate is...
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